Why LaMelo Ball, Josh Green sat out Hornets’ NBA preseason game in Memphis

Don’t panic. At least not yet anyway.

While it’s easy to get alarmed whenever the Charlotte Hornets add to the number of players on the bench in street clothes , this apparently isn’t a cause for concern.

LaMelo Ball and Josh Green were held out of Thursday night’s 119-94 preseason win over Memphis at FedEx Forum, leaving the Hornets without three-fifths of their projected starting lineup. But it wasn’t because either was banged up.

Consider it preventative and a smart move.

“We’ve played a lot of basketball so far,” said coach Charles Lee, who was also still without Cody Martin but had Grant Williams available for the first time this preseason. “We did training camp on the road at Duke and so there’s going to be a couple of guys when you’re playing a three-in-five that we’re going to be mindful of their minutes.”

Given what Ball has shown so far in two preseason outings after missing the final three months of 2023-24 with lingering soreness in his surgically repaired ankle, the Hornets have seen more than enough and don’t want to unnecessarily push Ball, providing plenty of time for him to recuperate.

Ball appears to be in perfectly fine rhythm and ensuring he plays as many games as possible this season is among the chief goals for the Hornets.

Green’s rest is part of the health and performance staff’s plan to help manage the 23-year-old’s body. Lee, citing Green’s increased workload this past summer at the Olympics following an NBA Finals run with Dallas in June, elected to give him the second half of Tuesday’s preseason win over Miami off.

With the number of minutes Green logged in 2023-24 — starting more games (33) than he had in any of his previous three seasons — and the extra grind associated with playing for his native Australia for the better part of July and August, the last thing the Hornets want to do is have him wear down. He’s an important piece thanks to his versatility and Lee intends on putting the ball in his hands, running things through him on occasion.

Add it all up and the Hornets don’t want to jeopardize anyone’s health entering what should be an intriguing season if their key rotation pieces dodge injury. That also goes for Williams, who’s working his way into form from a tweaked hamstring suffered before training camp.

“It was nice to have him back out there,” Lee said. “Just another really good basketball player, a smart mind. Versatile defender. He brings such great energy and basketball IQ, the ability to make some plays for himself and his teammates. It was really nice to have him out there.”